Dear fellow members and friends of Surfers Sunrise,
If you don't chase after what you want, you'll never get it! If you don't ask, you'll never know! If you don't step forward, you'll always be in the same place!... well that's what I think anyway! So with that, let's do August! We got a school to build for Vanuatu, we got wheels to unload for the wheelchairs, we got Mat Rogers talking volunteering at the Com Games, Hope Island RC visiting AND we got a BBQ breakfast on the 'cards'... So chase, ask and step forward.... August is gonna be loaded!
One of our club's recently inducted members, Mark Twyford, is part of the "gang". With him are Bruce Alker Jnr, who describes himself as a "Beer drinking, football playing man who likes to go on stage". Janet Goodman on the other hand introduced herself simply as a Fitness Instructor with a couple of teenage daughters and relevant tendencies to get grey hair.... Janet's husband Mark, on a video which regrettably didn't quite make it to the big screen, confirmed the grey hair causing teenage daughters... [Regrettably, the teenage daughters were not present to defend themselves... ☺ Ed.]
But that is not really why they were there last Wednesday. Bruce Jnr, Janet and Mark are organizers of the Kokoda Challenge. So, how would you like to participate in a 96 Km trek throughout the Gold Coast Hinterland? The top teams, so Bruce Jnr informs us, are doing it in 28 Hours. OK, so that averages just 3.42 Km per hour. "I can do that!" I hear you exclaim. But let me introduce you to one of the maxims of long distance Army marching: you add one hour for every 300 metres of height difference. Now... over the 96 Km of the challenge, there is a net height difference of some 5,000 metres. So now, you add, in theory, roughly another 17 hours... And here is another Army marching maxim relating to diminishing performance if there is no decent rest for more than 12 hours: ... on second thoughts, I just might leave that off or I might scare you away!
"Courage, Endurance" is the slogan. But what they really do is to raise funds to send some disadvantaged youth. From a maximum of 1000 applicants, few will be selected to walk the actual Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. $10,000 is the cost to put a young person through the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program.
What?? You don't think you can muster a team who are up to doing the 96Km with you? Bruce, Janet and Mark are also looking for support personnel to man the check points, arrange for change of clothes, hand out food etc. It is on around the 'Christmas in July' period: 16th and 17th July 2016.
There is a whole lot of specific information at this address:
On Saturday 14th May, a farewell luncheon for the GSE Team from Pennsylvania will be held at Southport Golf Club. The flyer from the Download section on the right has all the details!
Fellows, Girls! This is happening this coming Saturday!
Chris Thurtell who is the chief organizer of this event, urges you to be on time at 6:30 pm at the Seaworld Resort Hotel (formerly Seaworld Nara Resort). The first show will start shortly after, so if you are late, you'll miss it!
Please spread this out on your Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and whatever other Social Media you participate in! This is only possible if you have a "big wig" of Seaworld in our club! Chris Thurtell and President Elect Simon Brook have organized a cocktail party at Seaworld on the last Saturday in May. See the flyer in the download section on the right.
Doug Lipp managed to get himself back on to the Top Table... But, hey! the entire Top Table (Des La Rance, Daryl Sanderson and Bob Harrison) is fined: to be top table, you have to be at the top, not third from the front... Darrell Brown... well here is a man whose picture appeared in Vogue Magazine, always at the top of men's fashion. But now he has reached the ultimate level: rust coloured shoelaces matching the colour of his trousers... Sergeant Andy claimed to have done some research on Franz Huber, and that his real name actually is 'Von Huberton'... [here is documentary proof that your Editor faithfully publishes what the Sergeant says, regardless of whether it is factual or a figment of his fertile suppositions. Suppositories?? ☺ Ed.]Ian Mayberry, you are sporting the most magnificent hair wave... Angus Miller: welcome back! I understand that, in your absence, somebody sent you a letter addressed as Mr Anus Miller. [Hmmm... here is a new name for a Macca's burger... Ed.]Peter Morgan, how long do we need to see you in short pants? Hasn't everyone seen your scar yet? Larry Murray, did you get the sack? Not at your usual sartorial elegance... President Paul Seymour, did you really write that President's message? It is spelled Yandina. And last but not least: Mark Twyford, Gerald East (and if he would be here, Terry O'Shea): what team do you support? Tigers?
Ian Mayberry was at the door, Angus Miller was chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Jo Gorman, Tony Bird, Terry O'Shea, Tania Laird, Mario Fairlie, Graeme Isaacson, Adrian Crowe and Al Sirovs.
President Paul Seymour welcomed all members and our visitors District Governor Elect Michael Irwing (RC of Southport), Arthur Moorhouse (RC of Nowra) and our Guest Speakers, Bruce Alker Jnr and Janet Goodman. Paul reported on the GSE team's arrival from Pennsylvania, and reminded all that on 11th May there won't be a normal morning meeting, but instead we'll have a social Bar-be-que at Paul's place. More details in the Events section on the right. Then, on Saturday 14th May a farewell party will be held at the Southport Golf Club - $20.00 per person. An on-line survey will be published for members to vote on the board's recommendation to move our meetings to the Surfers Paradise RSL Club.
President Elect Simon Brook was up early last weekend, taking the GSE Team up to Mount Warning! See photos on our Facebook Page, and DGN Darrell Brown presented a banner from the Rotary Club of Grafton.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson presented his usual thorough reporting on the happenings at The Shed: "we need more money!" he exclaimed - like about $40,000. On the labour side: two new workers turned up last Saturday, and on Friday two 40' containers arrived. There is still a possibility of obtaining a grant via MP Stuart Roberts, but "lots of restrictions" apply...
Des La Rance received a request from Thailand for a Flat Pack School. As our previous project in 2007 at Khao Lak Beach, it is supported by the Princess of Thailand, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, but this time the school is destined to go to the North of Thailand.
Have you registered for the upcoming District Conference in Murwillumbah (6th to 8th May)? Registration itself is free.
WHAT ARE THE SIX AREAS OF FOCUS?
1. Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
2. Disease prevention and treatment
3. Water and sanitation
4. Maternal and child health
5. Basic education and literacy
6. Economic and community development THE ROTARY FOUNDATION – CONTINUING TO EMPOWER ROTARIANS AT HOME AND ABROAD AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS THE “GOOD WE DO IN THE WORLD.”
What?? You don't think you can muster a team who are up to doing the 96Km with you? Bruce, Janet and Mark are also looking for support personnel to man the check points, arrange for change of clothes, hand out food etc. It is on around the 'Christmas in July' period: 16th and 17th July 2016.
.JPG)
Doug Lipp managed to get himself back on to the Top Table... But, hey! the entire Top Table (Des La Rance, Daryl Sanderson and Bob Harrison) is fined: to be top table, you have to be at the top, not third from the front... Darrell Brown... well here is a man whose picture appeared in Vogue Magazine, always at the top of men's fashion. But now he has reached the ultimate level: rust coloured shoelaces matching the colour of his trousers... Sergeant Andy claimed to have done some research on Franz Huber, and that his real name actually is 'Von Huberton'... 
